I can't believe I am attempting to give anyone instruction on computer use,
but thought I'd pass along my experience.
The HTML function applies to VERSION 4 OF INTERNET EXPLORER AND NETSCAPE.
I don't think the earlier versions have that capability. So, if you don't
have those versions, you don't need to be concerned.
I had been a die-hard Netscape user until Ver. 4s came out. I now find
that IE4 is much better for my purposes, so I know more about it. With
IE4, go to Mail | Options and be sure HTML is not checked. Your mail
should go out as plain text. This should serve your purposes for 99 per
cent of your correspondence. If you know your addressee has Ver4, and want
to send something formatted with bold, colors, etc. then uncheck that
option--just for that mail.
On Netscape, it is a bit more complicated, and I am less sure. But it
appears you need to go to Preferences | Mail & Groups | Messages. Un
-click *By default, send HTML messages*. That ought to fix that. (When I
went to Netscape, I found that my program had this selected, which I didn't
realize.)
I have no idea whether Eudora or other programs have this capability or
not.
Incidentally, two of the reasons I like I.E. better is the automatic filing
of bookmarks, and the ability to print out a web page with all the
hyperlinks shown. Very handy for copying my webpage for referral.
And--the price is right! Got tired of spending $50 to upgrade Netscape.
Pat McDonald